History Of The Frenchie Shepherd
The parents that created the Frenchie Shepherd are the entertaining French Bulldog and the courageous German Shepherd. As with other mixed breeds, there isn’t much information about the initial French Bulldog and German Shepherd hybrid pups.
But we can look at the genetic composition of both parents’ breeds to learn more about these strange dogs.
The French Bulldog is an English breed, despite its name. In the middle of the nineteenth century, Nottingham’s lacemakers enjoyed cuddling with their miniature Bulldogs.
When the sector moved to France, the dogs followed. Over an extended period, breeders bred them with several breeds, most likely terriers and pugs.
The history of the German Shepherd started in the early 1890s. Captain Max von Stephanitz, the breed pioneer, crossed numerous German shepherding dogs to create the ultimate herding dog. These dogs are the ancestors of the German shepherd breed that we know today.
Appearance and Features
When you cross two different dogs, it is impossible to know which parent gene the puppy will select. The French Bulldog should weigh no more than 28 pounds and have a height between 11 and 13 inches.
The Frenchie Shepherd is powerful and has a large chest, but his physique is smaller than average. His stature and the size of his bat ears set him apart from his larger cousins. Their head is square and massive for his body, and his face is heavily wrinkled with a tiny snout and the traditional Bulldog pout.
His short, smooth coat might be white, cream, fawn, or any combination of these colors. Patterns include brindle and piebald, and a marking may be either white or black.
How will a Frenchie Shepherd turn out?
As you may expect, a French Bulldog/German Shepherd mix’s look can vary substantially in size and facial features. He will often be much smaller than a German Shepherd while having a longer muzzle than a French Bulldog.
The Frenchie lives between 10 and 12 years.
French Bulldog German Shepherd Mix Temperament
French Bulldogs are lapdogs at heart and enjoy being cuddled and patted. They are generally devoted, kind, and amiable, especially with kids and other animals. This breed is stubborn at times and is also highly bright.
Like any dog, they require early socialisation and exposure to various people, places, and circumstances. German Shepherds are big, strong dogs that are fit for labour.
They have a solid instinct to protect themselves and are frequently suspicious of strangers. Also, they are fiercely devoted to their family.
Having This dog Breed As A Pet
Like with appearance, it’s impossible to predict what kind of dog you’ll get when mixing two disparate breeds.
Your French Bulldog and German Shepherd mix will likely be highly devoted to you. He might, however, feel apprehensive around strangers, both within the house and outside. Socializing him early in life is critical to developing a comfort level with strangers.
Training Your French Bulldog German Shepherd Mix
Potty training should start early, and it should be consistent and positive. When you’re not home, crate training might help you avoid mishaps with poop and urine.
Frenchies can be challenging to train and may need more care than other breeds.
Consistency, positive reinforcement, routines, socialization, and obedience training are all necessary for a German shepherd. Training with motivations works nicely.
With this approach, timing is essential, and the dog must understand why he is receiving a treat for it to be effective. During clicker training, the dog learns to recognize the specific activity for which he gets rewarded by using the clicker as a signal.
To ensure that the French Bulldog/German Shepherd mix is kind and not guarded around people, he must become accustomed to his new surroundings and routine.
Exercising Your Frenchie Shepherd
You’re looking at two breeds that couldn’t be more dissimilar regarding activity needs. The Frenchie is a brachycephalic breed that quickly loses energy. Still, the German Shepherd is a highly energetic and athletic dog that needs lots of exercises.
Your French Bulldog and German Shepherd mix will be more susceptible to breathing problems if he has Frenchie’s flat face.
This means he cannot effectively cool himself off or obtain adequate oxygen for strenuous exertion. He should therefore avoid overexerting himself, especially during hot or humid conditions.
German Shepherds are excellent swimmers, but brachycephalic dogs are entirely incapable of swimming. They will perish in water that is higher than their heads.
Start with brief daily walks and playtimes if your Frenchie Shepherd mix more closely resembles the German Shepherd parent.
Progress to longer walks and faster-paced activity as it matures. Your pet will remain cognitively active with challenging retrieving exercises and games. Suppose your pet is bored; they are more likely to engage in unwanted or harmful activity.
Frenchie Shepherd Health
Unfortunately, both parent breeds have significant health issues, and your pet can inherit health problems from either parent.
The French Bulldog’s neck and respiratory pathways are impaired because of the excessive shortness of the facial bones.
This results in severe, persistent breathing issues known as brachycephalic syndrome. Worse, some breeders purposefully create puppies with increasingly flatter faces since the Frenchie’s incredibly flat face is desirable in many circles.
Their structural issues extend beyond just their looks. Another condition that affects the French Bulldog is chondrodystrophy, a type of dwarfism that results in multiple spinal abnormalities.
The French Bulldog is more prone to screw tail, another condition that deforms the spine. This may, in extreme situations, result in paralysis. Hip and elbow dysplasia refers to the atypical growth of the corresponding joints. It frequently occurs in many large breeds, and the GSD is no exception.
An abnormal development in the dog’s joints’ cartilage leads to osteochondritis dissecans. Spinal cord degenerative myelopathy is a gradual and fatal condition. The German Shepherd has yet another health issue.
Breeders who are responsible will check their breeding stock for certain hereditary disorders. Large dogs are more prone to bloat, a gastrointestinal illness that causes a sudden, potentially fatal bloating of the stomach.
Grooming and Feeding a Frenchie Shepherd
The German Shepherd has a medium-length double coat that sheds moderately, compared to the Bulldog’s short coat, which sheds very little.
The Frenchie Shepherd should have a relatively low-care coat that only needs brushing once a week, and you can groom it twice a year.
Regular nail trimming is necessary since long nails can hurt and cause structural problems. Your pet can get nutrition from high-quality, age-appropriate dog food.
Since Frenchies are prone to obesity, which increases their risk for health problems and can harm their conformation, you should observe their calorie intake constantly. See your veterinarian if you are concerned about the best dog food.
